Group limited to 8 participants maximum only to optimize group dynamics

Training Topics

Certification in Art Therapy

Topics Covered include:

Introduction to Art Therapy

Art is an effective tool in mental health treatment. As an expressive medium, art can be used to help clients communicate, overcome stress and explore different aspects of their own personality. In psychology, the use of artistic methods to treat psychological disorders and enhance mental health is known as art therapy.

improve mental health and well-being. The Malaysian Association of Psychotherapy (MAP) describes art therapy as "a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight."

History of Art Therapy

While people have been using the arts as a way to express, communicate and heal for thousands of years, art therapy only began to formalize during the middle of the 20th-century. Doctors noted that individuals suffering from mental illness often expressed themselves in drawings and other artworks, which led many to explore the use of art as a healing strategy. Since then, art has become an important part of the therapeutic field and is used in some assessment and treatment techniques.

Clinical Application of Art Therapy

Art therapy can be used to treat a wide range of mental disorders and psychological distress. In many cases, it might be used in conjunction with other psychotherapy techniques such as group therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Some situations in which art therapy might be utilized include:

Children with learning disabilities

Children with learning disabilities

Children suffering from behavioral or social problems at school or at home

People experiencing mental health problems

Individuals suffering from a brain injury

Children or adults who have experienced a traumatic event

Techniques of Art Therapy

An art therapist may use a variety of art methods including drawing, painting, sculpture and collage with clients ranging from young children to the elderly. Clients who have experienced emotional trauma, physical violence, domestic abuse, anxiety, depression and other psychological issues can benefit from expressing themselves creatively. Hospitals, private mental health offices, schools and community organizations are all possible settings where art therapy services may be available.

You might also wonder how an art therapy session differs from the average art class. "In most art therapy sessions, the focus is on your inner experience—your feelings, perceptions, and imagination. While art therapy may involve learning skills or art techniques, the emphasis is generally first on developing and expressing images that come from inside the person, rather than those he or she sees in the outside world," explains Cathy Maldiochi in The Art Therapy Sourcebook . "And while some traditional art classes may ask you to paint or draw from your imagination, in art therapy, your inner world of images, feelings, thoughts, and ideas are always of primary importance to the experience."

How to set up an Art Therapist Clinical Practice

In Malaysia you need to first become a licensed practitioner member of MAP in order to offer psychotherapy services.

Psychology centres endorsed by MAP such as IPC offers credentialing programs allow art therapists to become registered, board certified or licensed art therapists as licensed practitioner member of MAP (Division of Expressive Therapy).

According to MAP, the minimum requirements:

1. A master's degree in art therapy, or

2. Equivalent related MAP endorsed certifications

Additional post-graduate supervised experience is also required. You can learn more about the training and educational requirements to become a psychotherapist and an art therapist on the MAP website (www.MalaysianPsychotherapy.net).

Ethical issues

This includes all the skills and knowledge of how to apply yourself professionally in the practice of art therapy for effective outcome for the clients.

Course Layout

We use the mastery system of education. Besides lecturing, this course provides clinical experience such as: research, case study, group clinical supervision, reflections, discussions & presentation. Assessment includes case study oral and written presentations, group participation, research paper and assignments.

The topics mentioned above are taught within 3 months. During this period, students will also be given clinical case assignments and presentations to do. Our course is structured as 2 intensive workshop with six group clinical supervision & oral / written case presentation for the assessment. Fulfilling the attendance and passing the criteria given will lead to towards the licensed practitioner membership of Expressive Therapy Division of Malaysia Association of Psychotherapy.

Equipment & Venue

Below are the equipment used:

Chairs & table

Course book

Art Therapy materials

Figurines

SandTray

Symbols

Cds and Music

White board

Notes/ books

Venue: International Psychology Centre, Kuala Lumpur

The course will be facilitated by IPC team of psychologists, art therapists, educational and child psychologists and child therapists headed the course director.

Dr. Chan has been conducting psychological and psychoeducational assessment and psychotherapy for the past 16 years clinical experience as a child & educational psychologist, child and family therapist in Malaysia, Asia and Europe.

Dr. Edward Chan gained his degree in psychology from Middlesex University, UK., his Masters degree in Learning from the Dept. of Educational Research, University of Lancaster, UK., and his Doctorate in Psychology from the Intercultural Open University , the Netherlands. Dr. Chan spent 3 years at the Dept. of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford and the Open University, UK to conduct the research for his doctorate work.

Dr. Edward received further postgraduate training on numerous psychological research and clinical practices from leading psychologists and psychotherapists in the world.

Dr. Chan was trained by Patrick Jansen Sandplay therapy & Symbol Work who pioneered Dona Kalff’s work on Sandplay Therapy in Australia based on her collaboration with Carl Jung and Emma Jung at the Jung Institute in Zurich. He also received training from Mark Pearson in Expressive Therapy for Children & Adolescent from the Institute of Expressive Therapy, Australia. Dr. Chan was trained by Professor Linda Homeyer, licensed play therapist and past president of the Play Therapy Association of USA in Play Therapy, Play Therapy Supervision and Filial Therapy. Dr Chan was also trained in clinical supervision in couple and family Therapy by Aldo Gurgone, licensed clinical Psychologist and Director of William Street Therapy centre, Australia.

Dr. Chan has also published widely, including in the academic proceedings in the various international and national conferences he has been invited to speak, Current Research & Practices on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in Asia; the critically acclaimed parenting book, Are You Man Enough To Be a Father; couple psychology book, Love Is Never Enough, Pleasurable Commitment Rules; and Dancing with Crocodiles. Dr. Edward is the keynote speaker for the Asian Pacific Rim International Psychotherapy & Counseling Conference 2013 to be published in the Handbook of Psychotherapy & Counseling Research & Clinical Practice in Asia. His professional views on children, couple and adult psychology is also regularly sought and featured in national newspaper (including the parenting, women and appointment sections of the New Straits Time, the Education Section of the Star, Oriental Daily and professional and popular journals including: Malaysian Medical Tribune, Junior Statesman, Today's Parents, Better Parents, Mama Moden, Malaysian Women Weekly, Females, Marie Claire, Nona, Jelita, Malaysian Business, CIMA, Health & Beauty. He is also a well-known radio and television personality on educational and child psychological, relationship and family issues.

Dr. Chan is a fellow of the Malaysian Association of Psychotherapy; a fellow of the Malaysian Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Association; a level 5 (accredited supervisor) practitioner member of the division of Expressive Therapy; Educational Psychology; the division of Couple and Marital Therapy; and the division of Child Therapy of the Malaysian Association of Psychotherapy, a practitioner member of the Malaysian of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Association and the Psychotherapy Chapter, the Malaysian Society for Complementary Medicine.

Dr. Chan is a board member of the World Council for Psychotherapy; the Counselling & Psychotherapy Association of Commonwealth Nations (CPACN); the Malaysian Association for Psychotherapy; the Malaysian Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Associaiton; The Psychotherapy Chapter, the Malaysian Society for Complementary Medicine and chairs the Asian Pacific Rim International Counseling & Psychotherapy Conference 2013 (APRCPC 2013).